Unified cognition for a virtual personal cognitive assistant of an entity when consuming multiple, distinct domains at different points in time

ABSTRACT

Provided are techniques for unified cognition for a virtual personal cognitive assistant. A personal cognitive agent creates an association with an entity and a personalized embodied cognition manager that includes an entity agent registry, wherein the personal cognitive agent comprises a virtual personal cognitive assistant. Selection of a first cognitive assistant agent from a first domain and a second cognitive assistant agent from a second domain are received. Input from the entity is received. A goal based on the input is identified. Unified cognition is provided by coordinating the first cognitive assistant agent of the first domain and the second cognitive assistant agent of the second domain to generate one or more actions to meet the goal. A response is provided to the input with an indication of the goal.

FIELD

Embodiments of the invention relate to providing unified cognition for avirtual personal cognitive assistant. In particular, embodiments relateto providing unified cognition for a virtual personal cognitiveassistant of an entity when consuming multiple, distinct domains atdifferent points in time.

BACKGROUND

Embodied cognition may be described as placing cognitive computingcapabilities in a cognitive computing system of an object (e.g., arobot, an avatar, etc.) of the physical world. This enhances cognitivecomputing capabilities of the cognitive computing system inunderstanding, reasoning, learning, and other cognitive processes byproviding the cognitive computing system the ability to see, hear, talk,move, etc. through the object. In turn, such a cognitive computingsystem is enabled to provide human cognitive abilities through user andobject partnership and collaborations.

An example of such embodied cognition includes embodied cognition in aspeaker with the ability to engage users in natural language dialoguefor conducting tasks such as ordering items for purchase. Anotherexample of such embodied cognition includes embodied cognition in arobot to interact with customers for concierge services.

Conventional implementations of embodied cognition focus on embeddingcognitive computing capabilities in one object of the physical world,with a set of functions preloaded onto the object, and let humans, asgeneric users, come to interact with that object as a single instance ofembodied cognition. That is, a conventional implementation primarilycovers a single embodied cognition object that interacts genericallywith multiple users.

For example, an object that has face recognition may call a user infront of that object by name or look up records for that user.

SUMMARY

In accordance with embodiments, a computer-implemented method isprovided for providing unified cognition for a virtual personalcognitive assistant. The computer-implemented method comprises: undercontrol of a personal cognitive agent, creating, with a processor of acomputer, an association with an entity and a personalized embodiedcognition manager that includes an entity agent registry, wherein thepersonal cognitive agent comprises a virtual personal cognitiveassistant; receiving selection of a first cognitive assistant agent froma first domain and a second cognitive assistant agent from a seconddomain; receiving input from the entity; identifying a goal based on theinput; providing unified cognition by coordinating the first cognitiveassistant agent of the first domain and the second cognitive assistantagent of the second domain to generate one or more actions to meet thegoal; and providing a response to the input with an indication of thegoal.

In accordance with other embodiments, a computer program product isprovided for providing unified cognition for a virtual personalcognitive assistant. The computer program product comprising a computerreadable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, theprogram code executable by at least one processor to perform operationscomprising: under control of a personal cognitive agent, creating anassociation with an entity and a personalized embodied cognition managerthat includes an entity agent registry, wherein the personal cognitiveagent comprises a virtual personal cognitive assistant; receivingselection of a first cognitive assistant agent from a first domain and asecond cognitive assistant agent from a second domain; receiving inputfrom the entity; identifying a goal based on the input; providingunified cognition by coordinating the first cognitive assistant agent ofthe first domain and the second cognitive assistant agent of the seconddomain to generate one or more actions to meet the goal; and providing aresponse to the input with an indication of the goal.

In yet other embodiments, a computer system is provided for providingunified cognition for a virtual personal cognitive assistant. Thecomputer system comprises one or more processors, one or morecomputer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable, tangiblestorage devices; and program instructions, stored on at least one of theone or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices for execution byat least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the oneor more memories, to perform operations comprising: under control of apersonal cognitive agent, creating an association with an entity and apersonalized embodied cognition manager that includes an entity agentregistry, wherein the personal cognitive agent comprises a virtualpersonal cognitive assistant; receiving selection of a first cognitiveassistant agent from a first domain and a second cognitive assistantagent from a second domain; receiving input from the entity; identifyinga goal based on the input; providing unified cognition by coordinatingthe first cognitive assistant agent of the first domain and the secondcognitive assistant agent of the second domain to generate one or moreactions to meet the goal; and providing a response to the input with anindication of the goal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers representcorresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a block diagram, a computing environment forproviding unified cognition for a cognitive assistant in accordance withcertain embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a personal banking cognitive assistantagent in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a personal shopping cognitive assistantagent in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for creating a cognitiveassistant agent in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate, in a flowchart, operations for configuringembodied cognition object instances for a cognitive assistant agent inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for coordinatinginteraction of multiple cognitive assistant agents in accordance withcertain embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providing unifiedcognition for a cognitive assistant in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates, in a block diagram, a computing environment forproviding unified cognition for a virtual personal cognitive assistantwhen cognition is embodied across multiple embodied cognition objectinstances and an entity is able to interact with the virtual personalcognitive assistant using the multiple embodied cognition objectinstances in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates an architectural pattern accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates interaction of embodied cognition kernels andembodied cognition object instances in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providing unifiedcognition for a virtual personal cognitive assistant when cognition isembodied across multiple embodied cognition object instances and anentity is able to interact with the virtual personal cognitive assistantusing the multiple embodied cognition object instances in accordancewith certain embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates interaction between Internet of Things (IoT) devicesand a cognitive model in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates further details of the IoT devices in accordancewith certain embodiments.

FIG. 14 illustrates further details of the cognitive classifier inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates a cognitive dimension map and a recognition processin accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 16 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providing enablingmulti-dimensional cognition for unified cognition in cognitiveassistance.

FIG. 17 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providingmulti-dimensional cognition for unified cognition in cognitiveassistance in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 18 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providingmulti-dimensional cognition for unified cognition in cognitiveassistance in accordance with additional embodiments.

FIG. 19 illustrates a computing node in accordance with certainembodiments.

FIG. 20 illustrates a cloud computing environment in accordance withcertain embodiments.

FIG. 21 illustrates abstraction model layers in accordance with certainembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

Unified Cognition for a Virtual Personal Cognitive Assistant of anEntity when Consuming Multiple, Distinct Domains at Different Points inTime

With certain embodiments, an entity may use a virtual personal cognitiveassistant to manage multiple, distinct domains of cognitive assistantagents, at different points in time over a long time period. Differententities may employ different combinations domains of cognitiveassistant agents. A domain may be described as any grouping, such as agrouping representing functions performed for that domain. Examples ofdomains include: personal shopping, personal banking, and personalhealth. For example, one entity may use personal shopping and personalbanking cognitive assistant agents, while another entity may usepersonal shopping and personal health cognitive assistant agents.

With embodiments, a domain corresponds to a cognitive assistant agentfor a particular area (e.g., banking, shopping, etc.). A domain may bedescribed as any feature, function, and/or capability for the purpose of(a) the extension of cognitive capacity and (b) for the reduction ofcognitive load in order to augment the natural cognition of the user forthe set domain. Each domain may have two collaborating categories ofcognitive capabilities, namely external interfacing capability (such asspeech, sight, hearing, User Interface (UI), etc.) and internalcognition capability (such as knowledge, actions, insights etc.). Withembodiments, the capabilities of a given cognitive assistant agent for adomain are packaged as one or multiple modules.

Unlike conventional implementations in which functions are preloadedinto one embodied cognition object, for example, a robot, embodimentsprovide cognitive assistant agents of different domains that allow eachof the cognitive assistant agents to be managed and coordinated by apersonal cognitive agent as a digitized cognitive entity working on anentity's behalf. This allows one or more cognitive assistant agents ofdifferent domains to be dynamically loaded into an entity's embodiedcognition object instance registry 120 for the enablement of ubiquitousaccess to a particular personal cognitive assistant.

With embodiments, each instance of a personal cognitive assistant has acorresponding designated entity of a unique individual, which mayfurther comprise knowledge and data about the unique individuality ofthe entity.

With embodiments, each personal cognitive assistant aggregates cognitiveassistant agents of different domains based on selections by the entity.Each cognitive assistant agent is of a specific domain scope and is alsoenabled to collaborate and communicate with other cognitive assistantagents of different domains to enable the integration into one cohesive,coherent entity instance of the cognitive assistant agents of differentdomains. Moreover, each cognitive assistant agent has a cognitive modelwith one or more cognitive capabilities (e.g., speech, vision, location,temporal, audio, etc.). Each of the cognitive capabilities is integratedinto a cognitive semantic understanding as determined by thecorresponding cognitive model.

In addition, each cognitive capability is further enabled to be embodiedin one or multiple embodied cognition object instances to enable aubiquitous accessibility of each cognitive assistant agent of a domainto the corresponding entity.

For example, an entity, such as a user, may initially use personalshopping as a first domain for a cognitive assistant agent. Then a fewmonths later, the entity decides to add personal banking and personalhealth as two additional domains of cognitive assistant agents. Unlikewith conventional systems, with certain embodiments, the differentcognitive assistant agents operate as a unified cognition, in anintegrated and inter-operable manner. For example, with certainembodiments, a goal for personal banking of capping grocery shopping to$600 a month is integrated into the personal shopping domain of thecognitive assistant agent.

Thus, embodiments enable unified cognition for integrated cognitiveassistance experience from across multiple cognitive assistant agents ofdistinctively different domains, consumed at different points in time.In particular, embodiments enable a unified cognition for a virtualpersonal cognitive assistant of an entity, when consuming multiple,different domains.

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a block diagram, a computing environment forproviding unified cognition for a cognitive assistant in accordance withcertain embodiments. A cloud environment for personal cognitiveassistants 100 includes, for an entity identity, a personalized embodiedcognition manager 110. An entity may be a human user, an applicationprogram, an apparatus, a robot, etc. With embodiments, an entityidentity represents the entity.

The personalized embodied cognition manager 110 works on the entity'sbehalf to manage multiple embodied cognition object instances andmultiple uses of personal cognitive assistant agents. The entity'semployment of embodied cognition object instances (e.g., Internet ofThings (IoT) devices) is orthogonal to the entity's adoption ofcognitive assistant agents of different domains. The embodied cognitionobject instances are of diversified embodied cognition object instancetypes. With certain embodiments, different embodied cognition objectinstance types have different cognitive capabilities.

The personalized embodied cognition manager 110 includes an embodiedcognition object instance registry 120 (“object instance registry” 120),an entity agent registry 130, and a personal cognitive agent 140. Theembodied cognition object instance registry 120 includes embodiedcognition object instances, such as one or more speakers 122, one ormore smart phones 124, one or more robots 126, one or more smart cars128, etc. Embodied cognition object instances may be added to or removedfrom the embodied cognition object instance registry 120.

The entity agent registry 130 includes cognitive assistant agents forspecific domains, such as a first personal cognitive assistant agent132, a second personal cognitive assistant agent 134, etc. Cognitiveassistant agents may be added to or removed from the entity agentregistry 130.

With embodiments, each cognitive assistant agent may have its ownembodied cognition object instances. For example, the embodied cognitionobject instance registry 120 may store a first embodied cognition objectinstance for a speaker for the first personal cognitive assistant agent132 and may store a second embodied cognition object instance for aspeaker for the second personal cognitive assistant agent 134. Invarious embodiments, each cognitive assistant agent may have the same ordifferent embodied cognition object instances. In certain embodiments,cognitive assistant agents may share an embodied cognition objectinstance (e.g., share a speaker).

Each entity identity has a virtual personal cognitive assistant,referred to as the personal cognitive agent 140, which may be managed bythe personalized embodied cognition manager 110. The personal cognitiveagent 140 provides unified cognition from across multiple cognitiveassistant agents that the entity employs and registers in the entityagent registry 130. That is, the personal cognitive agent 140 providesone unified cognition by integrating multiple cognitive assistant agentsemployed by the entity. In the example of FIG. 1 , the personalcognitive agent 140 provides unified cognition of the first personalcognitive assistant agent 132 and the second personal cognitiveassistant agent 134. The personal cognitive agent 140 includesconfiguration information 142, goals 144, and domain mappings 146. Withembodiments, the configuration information 142 and the goals 144 may beset by the entity. With embodiments, the domain mappings 146 may be setby a system administrator and/or the entity. The configurationinformation 142 includes information about the entity, such as alocation, social relationships, preferences, etc. The goals 144 indicateobjectives that the entity wishes to attain. For example, a goal may beto pay off a loan, and this would be used to assess how much to spend onother items, such as food and apparel. The domain mappings 146 map termsto domains.

With certain embodiments, unified cognition from multiple cognitiveassistant agents of different domains allows for a first personalcognitive assistant agent 132 and a second personal cognitive assistantagent 134. In addition, cognitive capabilities of a cognitive assistantagent of a domain are modularized into cognitive modules, such as shownin FIGS. 2-3 .

With certain embodiments, a cognitive assistant agent is a softwaremodule created by extending cognitive computing services (e.g., via thecloud environment), including machine learning services, to implement aset domain scope, that provides personalized cognitive assistance to anentity.

With certain embodiments, the agents, including the personal cognitiveagent 140, the first personal cognitive assistant agent 132, and thesecond personal cognitive assistant agent 134, comply with a programmingmodel to enable proactive interaction (also referred to as an agentprogramming model).

In FIG. 1 , a cloud agent registry 150 includes cognitive assistantagents that are registered with the cloud agent registry 150, such asthe first personal cognitive assistant agent 132 and the second personalcognitive assistant agent 134. Also, a personalized embodied cognitionIntegrated Development Environment (IDE) 160 is a developmentenvironment providing a framework for creating cognitive assistantagents. The cloud agent registry 150 resides in the cloud environmentfor personal cognitive assistants 100 to register cognitive assistantagents that are created (e.g., by developers) from the personalizedembodied cognition IDE 160.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a personal banking cognitive assistantagent 200 in accordance with certain embodiments. For example, the firstpersonal cognitive assistant agent 132 may be a personal bankingcognitive assistant agent 200. The personal banking cognitive assistantagent 200 includes personal banking cognitive modules 210 that arelinked to particular personal banking embodied cognition objectinstances 220. The personal banking cognitive modules 210 includemodules for: speech, vision, location, temporal (i.e., time), andoptionally others. The personal banking embodied cognition objectinstances are: speaker, smart phone, robot, smart car, and optionallyothers. The personal banking cognitive assistant agent 200 also includesa banking agent manifest file 230.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a personal shopping cognitive assistantagent 300 in accordance with certain embodiments. For example, the andsecond personal cognitive assistant agent 134 may be a personal shoppingcognitive assistant agent 300. The personal shopping cognitive assistantagent 300 includes personal shopping cognitive modules 310 that arelinked to particular personal shopping embodied cognition objectinstances 320. The personal shopping cognitive modules 310 includemodules for: speech, vision, location, audio, and optionally others. Thepersonal shopping embodied cognition object instances are: speaker,smart phone, robot, smart car, and optionally others. The personalshopping cognitive assistant agent 300 also includes a shopping agentmanifest file 330.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the personal banking cognitiveassistant agent 200 has a cognitive module for temporal, which thepersonal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300 does not have. However,the personal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300 has a cognitivemodule for audio, which the personal banking cognitive assistant agent200 does not have. In various embodiments, any instance of a cognitiveassistant agent for any domain (banking, shopping, etc.) may becustomized with cognitive modules. For example, another personalshopping cognitive assistant agent (e.g., for a different entity) mayinclude a cognitive module for temporal in addition to or instead ofaudio.

Other examples of cognitive assistant agents include: personalinvestment cognitive assistant agent, personal banking and investmentcognitive assistant agent, personal smart home cognitive assistantagent, personal aging parental care cognitive assistant agent, personalhealth cognitive assistant agent, etc.

Each cognitive module is optional. However, each cognitive assistantagent has at least one cognitive module.

With certain embodiments, the personal cognitive agent 140 runs insidethe personalized embodied cognition manager 110. In other embodiments,the personal cognitive agent 140 runs outside the personalized embodiedcognition manager 110. The personal cognitive agent 140 provides unifiedcognition across different cognitive assistant agents and acrossmultiple embodied cognition object instances. As a first example, thepersonal cognitive agent 140 consolidates entity interactions of onegiven cognitive capability (e.g., speech) across multiple embodiedcognition object instances for a given cognitive assistant agent. Forexample: in a personal shopping cognitive assistant agent having thecognitive ability of speech, the personal cognitive agent 140consolidates: a home speaker (June 15) (that hears: if sirloin steak isless than $30 a pound, buy 3 pounds) with a smart phone in the supermarket (June 16) (that understands that milk will expire in three days)with a smart car on the road (June 17) (that understands: don't forgetto pick up veggies and fruit). Other cognitive capabilities to beconsolidated from multiple embodied cognition object instances ofinteraction for a given cognitive assistant agent include: conversation,audio, graphical interfaces, visual, kinetics, and optionally others.

As a second example, the personal cognitive agent 140 consolidatesentity interactions of multiple cognitive capabilities across multipleembodied cognition object instances for the same cognitive assistantagent. For example, the entity's location module and temporal module areintegrated with the speech module for the entities personal cognitiveagent 140 and the personal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300indicates: “there is a store near you to pick up these items before yournext meeting”.

As a third example, the personal cognitive agent 140 consolidatesmultiple cognitive capabilities of multiple cognitive assistant agentsfor the entity's united cognition of the personal cognitive agent 140.For example, given two cognitive assistant agents, such as the personalbanking cognitive assistant agent 200 and the personal shoppingcognitive assistant agent 300, the personal cognitive agent 140determines that “the entity has $300 left spending room for grocery thismonth” based on interaction with the personal banking cognitiveassistant agent 200 and indicates to the personal shopping cognitiveassistant agent 300: “the entity has $300 left spending room for grocerythis month”.

With certain embodiments, a unified cognition for a virtual personalcognitive assistant of an entity for multiple, different domains isenabled. Initially, a software developer uses the personalized embodiedcognition IDE 160 to create a cognitive assistant agent according to theagent's programming model (e.g., as in FIGS. 2-3 ). The personalizedembodied cognition IDE 160 programming model is followed to createcognitive modules relevant for the domain scope of the cognitiveassistant agent. One or more object instantiations are created forembodied cognition object instances for the domain of the cognitiveassistant agent. Then, the cognitive assistant agent is published to thecloud agent registry 150.

Once one or more cognitive assistant agents are created, an entity maylog in to the cloud for personal cognitive assistant 140 to access thepersonalized embodied cognition manager 110. Then, the personalcognitive agent 140 provides a list of the available cognitive assistantagents. In response to entity selection of a cognitive assistant agent(e.g., personal banking cognitive assistant agent 200 or personalshopping cognitive assistant agent 300), the personal cognitive agent140 downloads the selected cognitive assistant agent from the cloudagent registry 150 into the entity agent registry 130.

The personal cognitive agent 140 automatically configures the selectedcognitive assistant agent according to the configuration information 142associated with the entity (e.g., personal information (such aslocation), social relationships, preferences, etc.).

The personal cognitive agent 140 automatically configures the cognitivecapabilities for each embodied cognition object that the entity hasregistered in the embodied cognition object instance registry 120. Foreach registered embodied cognition object, the personal cognitive agent140 looks at the agent manifest file for the cognitive assistant agentto locate the embodied cognition object instance of each cognitivemodule for that embodied cognition object instance. The personalcognitive agent 140 downloads and configures, for each embodiedcognition object in the embodied cognition object instance registry 120,the corresponding cognitive modules to an embodied cognition kernel,which is associated with the corresponding embodied cognition objectinstance.

When more than one cognitive assistant agent is being used by theentity, the personal cognitive agent 140 directs all interactionsbetween the cognitive assistant agents. The interactions include, forexample: conversation services, audio services, graphical interfaceservices, visual services, kinetic services, and optionally others(e.g., illustrated in FIG. 14 ). For example, the personal cognitiveagent 140 will go through each cognitive assistant agent to find a matchto any input from the entity. For example: when the entity talks aboutbuying groceries, the personal cognitive agent 140 finds a match to thepersonal shopping cognitive assistant agent, but does not find a matchto the personal banking cognitive assistant agent 200.

As the entity continues to interact with the cognitive assistant agent,by interacting with multiple embodied cognition object instances (e.g.,speaker at home, smart phone on the go, smart car on the road, etc.),the personal cognitive agent 140 acts as a virtual personal cognitiveassistant that represents the multiple cognitive assistant agents andcoordinates the cognitive assistant agents.

The personal cognitive agent 140 integrates, for each cognitive moduleof the same cognitive capability (e.g., speech), across multipleembodied cognition object instances, into one unified cognition of thatcognitive capability.

Thus, embodiments enable unified cognition for a cognitive assistant ofan entity identity, when consuming multiple, distinct domains atdifferent points in time. Embodiments associate a personal cognitiveagent 140 managed by a personalized embodied cognition manager 110 withan identity of an entity (e.g., a user), where the personalized embodiedcognition manager 110 manages, on behalf of the entity, multipleembodied cognition object instances and multiple uses of cognitiveassistant agents. Also, the personalized embodied cognition manager 110uses an embodied cognition object instance registry 120, an entity agentregistry 130, and a personal cognitive agent 140 to enable unifiedcognition from multiple cognitive assistant agents of different domains.With embodiments, the domains are modularized into cognitive assistantagents. Also, with embodiments, a given cognitive assistant agent of aparticular domain has cognitive modules in compliance with an agentprogramming model for cognitive computing comprising a predeterminedcognitive model, embodied cognition object instances, and a cognitivecontrol in an architectural pattern.

Embodiments create a cognitive assistant agent as a software module byextending cognitive computing services including use of cloud servicesand machine learning services, to implement a domain that providesentities with personalized cognitive assistance, where the personalizedembodied cognition IDE 160 provides a framework for a compositionstructure of a cognitive assistant agent.

Embodiments download a cognitive capability fit for a particularembodied cognition object, where an embodied cognition kernel resides inthe particular embodied cognition object and is a runtime container foran instantiation of a cognitive module for that embodied cognitionobject instance type. Each cognitive capability (e.g., speech or vision)has a respective cognitive model that is orthogonal to an embodiedcognition object of its embodiment and cognitive control. Each cognitivecapability is encapsulated in a corresponding cognitive module. Eachcognitive module, as one element of a particular model in the agentprogramming model, implements a function, a flow, and actions of afunctional scope of the cognitive assistant agent.

FIG. 4 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for creating a cognitiveassistant agent in accordance with certain embodiments. Control beginsat block 400 with, the personalized embodied cognition IDE 160, inresponse to receiving input, creating a cognitive assistant agent. Theinput received is to create the cognitive assistant agent for aparticular domain (e.g., a personal banking cognitive assistant agent ora personal shopping cognitive assistant agent). In block 402, thepersonalized embodied cognition IDE 160, creates one or more cognitivemodules (such as cognitive modules 210 or 310) for the cognitiveassistant agent. In block 404, the personalized embodied cognition IDE160 creates embodied cognition object instances (such as embodiedcognition object instances 220 or 320) for the cognitive assistantagent. In block 406, the personalized embodied cognition IDE 160 createsa manifest file (such as manifest files 230 or 330) for the cognitiveassistant agent. In block 408, the personalized embodied cognition IDE160 publishes the cognitive assistant agent in the cloud agent registry150.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate, in a flowchart, operations for configuringembodied cognition object instances for a cognitive assistant agent inaccordance with certain embodiments. Control begins at block 500 withthe personal cognitive agent 140 receiving selection of one or morecognitive assistant agents. That is, a list of one or more availablecognitive assistant agents registered (stored) in the cloud agentregistry 150 is provided to an entity, and the entity selects one ormore of the cognitive assistant agents. For example, the entity mayselect the personal banking cognitive assistant agent 200 and thepersonal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300.

In block 502, the personal cognitive agent 140 downloads the one or moreselected cognitive assistant agents from the cloud agent registry 150into the entity agent registry 130. For example, the personal cognitiveagent 140 downloads the personal banking cognitive assistant agent 200and the personal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300 from the cloudagent registry 150 into the entity agent registry 130.

In block 504, the personal cognitive agent 140 automatically configuresthe one or more selected cognitive assistant agents using configurationinformation 142. The configuration information 142 may include personalinformation (such as location), social relationships, preferences, etc.This is used to customize each cognitive assistant agent for the entity.For example, the personal cognitive agent 140 may automaticallyconfigure the personal banking cognitive assistant agent 200 withlocations of one or more banks, bank account information, etc. Asanother example, the personal cognitive agent 140 may automaticallyconfigure the personal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300 withpreferences for brands of apparel and electronics, particular retailers,apparel sizes, etc.

In block 506, the personal cognitive agent 140, for each of the one ormore selected cognitive assistant agents, uses the cognitive assistantagent's manifest file to identify one or more embodied cognition objectinstances. For example, for the personal banking cognitive assistantagent, the banking agent manifest file 230 is used to identify thepersonal banking embodied cognition object instances 220 of: speaker,smart phone, robot, smart car, and optionally others. As anotherexample, for the personal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300, theshopping agent manifest file 330 is used to identify the personalshopping embodied cognition object instances 320 of: speaker, smartphone, robot, smart car, and optionally others.

In block 508, the personal cognitive agent 140 downloads the identifiedone or more embodied cognition object instances from the cognitiveassistant agent to the embodied cognition object instance registry. Forexample, for the personal banking cognitive assistant agent, thepersonal cognitive agent 140 downloads the personal banking embodiedcognition object instances 220 of: speaker, smart phone, robot, smartcar, and optionally others. As another example, for the personalshopping cognitive assistant agent 300, the personal cognitive agent 140downloads the personal shopping embodied cognition object instances 320of: speaker, smart phone, robot, smart car, and optionally others.

In block 510, the personal cognitive agent 140, for each of the one ormore identified embodied cognition object instances, configures one ormore cognitive capabilities. For example, for a personal bankingcognitive assistant agent 200, the speaker embodied cognition object isgiven the cognitive capability of speech, while the smart phone embodiedcognition object is given the cognitive capability of speech, location,and temporal. Similarly, for the personal shopping cognitive assistantagent 300, the speaker embodied cognition object is given the cognitivecapability of speech, while the smart phone embodied cognition object isgiven the cognitive capability of speech, location, and audio.

In block 512, the personal cognitive agent 140, for each of the one ormore identified embodied cognition object instances, loads an embodiedcognition kernel to that embodied object instance. In block 514, thepersonal cognitive agent 140, for each of the one or more identifiedembodied cognition object instances, downloads one or more cognitivemodules into the loaded cognition kernel.

FIG. 6 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for coordinatinginteraction of multiple cognitive assistant agents in accordance withcertain embodiments. Control begins at block 600 with the personalcognitive agent 140 receiving input from an entity. For example, theentity states “I want to buy a sweater”.

In block 602, the personal cognitive agent 140 performs semanticanalysis on the input to generate one or more terms. For example,“sweater” is mapped to “apparel”, while “buy” is mapped to “money”. Withembodiments, many items may map to “apparel” (e.g., pants, tops,jackets, etc.). Similarly, many words may map to “money” (e.g.,purchase, sell, etc.).

In block 604, the personal cognitive agent 140 maps the one or moreterms to one or more domains. For example, “apparel” is mapped to“shopping” and “money” is mapped to “banking”.

In block 606, using the domains, the personal cognitive agent 140identifies multiple cognitive assistant agents. For example, thepersonal cognitive agent 140 identifies the personal banking cognitiveassistant agent 200 for the domain of banking and identifies thepersonal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300 for the domain ofshopping.

In block 608, the personal cognitive agent 140 coordinates interactionof the multiple cognitive assistant agents to achieve one or more goals144. For example, the coordination may include message exchanges betweenthe personal cognitive agent 140, the personal banking cognitiveassistant agent 200, and the personal shopping cognitive assistant agent300. In particular, for purchase of a sweater, for a goal of paying aloan first, the personal cognitive agent 140 may message with thepersonal banking cognitive assistant agent 200 to obtain an indicationof a budget of $100 for the sweater. In particular, the personal bankingcognitive assistant agent 200 may determine the budget of $100 based onthe goal of paying the loan first and the amount available in the bankaccount, taking into account whether other expenses (e.g., rent andgroceries) have already been paid. Then, the personal cognitive agent140 messages with the personal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300 toindicate that the sweater to be purchased may be at most $100 andreceives a list of possible sweaters form the personal shoppingcognitive assistant agent 300. The personal shopping cognitive assistantagent 300 is configured with configuration information 142 specific tothe entity, and this may include sizing for apparel and shops that arepreferred by the entity. The personal shopping cognitive assistant agent300 is able to use this information to identify possible sweaters with,for example, internet searches.

In block 610, the personal cognitive agent 140 generates a response tothe input based on the coordinated interaction along with the one ormore goals. For example, the personal cognitive agent 140 generates aresponse with the list of possible sweaters, the budget of $100, and thegoal of paying the loan first.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providing unifiedcognition for a cognitive assistant in accordance with certainembodiments. Control begins at block 700 with a personal cognitive agentcreating an association with an entity and a personalized embodiedcognition manager that includes an entity agent registry, wherein thepersonal cognitive agent comprises a virtual personal cognitiveassistant. In block 702, the personal cognitive agent, receivesselection of a first cognitive assistant agent from a first domain and asecond cognitive assistant agent from a second domain. In block 704, thepersonal cognitive agent, receives input from the entity. In block 706,the personal cognitive agent, identifies a goal based on the input. Inblock 708, the personal cognitive agent, provides unified cognition bycoordinating the first cognitive assistant agent of the first domain andthe second cognitive assistant agent of the second domain to generateone or more actions to meet the goal. In block 710, the personalcognitive agent, provides a response to the input with an indication ofthe goal.

Unified Cognition for a Virtual Personal Cognitive Assistant whenCognition is Embodied Across Multiple Embodied Cognition ObjectInstances and an Entity is Able to Interact with the Virtual PersonalCognitive Assistant Using the Multiple Embodied Cognition ObjectInstances

Embodiments allow embodied cognition to serve a designated individualfor services of augmented intelligence, as in virtual personal cognitiveassistants. Embodied cognition is a core component in building suchvirtual personal cognitive assistants. A virtual personal cognitiveassistant is highly personalized to an entity.

Embodiments enable entities who adopt a virtual personal cognitiveassistant as an augmented intelligence to use more than one IoT device.

Embodiments provide individualized and personalized services from theembodied cognition. Embodiments enable the embodied cognition to talk toan entity with personalized/individualized design. Embodiments providean association between a given embodied cognition object instance and adesignated ownership by an entity identity (e.g., the entity identity isthe boss and the embodied cognition object is the assistant).

Embodiments provide association of multiple embodied cognition objectinstances of different embodied cognition object instance types with onedesignated entity identity. Embodiments provide an inter-operatingframework across these multiple embodied cognition object instances inproducing a cohesive, unified cognition to serve one designated entityidentity. For example, a personal cognitive shopping assistant workingfor a shopper as an individual includes: 1) secured interactions with adesignated shopper, and 2) multiple embodied cognition object instances(e.g., a smart speaker in a home, a smart car as the shopper may be onthe road driving, a smart phone as the shopper may be outside of a home,etc.). Continuing with the example, the smart speaker, the smart car andthe smart phone become embodied cognition object instances, working in acohesive, unified manner in serving a shopper who has a designatedentity identity. With embodiments, cognitive assistance for shopping isprovided to the entity by the cognitive system through multiple embodiedcognition object instances, dynamically relevant to the situationalcontext of the entity as an individual.

Embodiments enable multiple embodied cognition object instances ofdiversified embodied cognition object instance types, with embodiedcognition object instance type having diversified embodied cognitivecapabilities, dedicated to work with or assist, a single, designatedentity identity, where the embodied cognition object instances mayinter-operate in a manner that is perceived by the entity as unified.This provides a cohesive personalized cognitive assistance experience,providing unified cognition for that entity identity.

Embodiments enable cognition everywhere. In particular, multipleembodied cognition object instances enable pervasive, ubiquitous,everywhere augmented intelligence for an entity as an individual. Forexample, a shopper may consume cognitive assistance from the home viathe speaker as an embodied cognition object instance, or in the car onthe road with the smart car as the embodied cognition object instance,etc.

Embodiments enable maximum leverage of cognitive capabilities inproviding personal cognitive assistance. For example, the location andtemporal cognition of a smart car as an embodied cognition objectinstance is enabled to know the favorite store location and shoppingtime of an entity that the virtual personal cognitive assistant isserving (i.e. the shopper) that only a speaker sitting at home with onlyspeech cognitive capability, does not provide.

With embodiments, once an entity identity is designated, when anembodied cognition object instance is designated to a specific entityidentity, learning and adaptation for that one entity as an individualis made possible.

Embodiments are agile and allow additional and removal of embodiedcognition object instances for an entity. Different types of embodiedcognition object instances with diversified cognitive capabilities maynow be systematically and agilely added/removed for the entity atdifferent points in time. For example, a speaker as an embodiedcognition object instance has the cognitive capability for speech butnot vision, while a robot as an embodied cognition object instance hasmuch more cognitive capability. Such embodied cognition object instancesof different embodied cognition object instance types, with differentcognitive abilities, may be systematically added for the assistance ofthe entity.

Moreover, embodiments enable multi-modal entity interactions (e.g.,hearing, movement, vision, gesture, etc.). Thus, unlike conventionalsystems that focus on speech (dialog or conversation between theembodied cognition object instance and the entity), embodiments enableembodied cognition object instances to be used for speech, hearing,vision, etc.

With embodiments, the personal cognitive assistant is able to “see”,“hear”, “move”, “act”, etc. For example, a conventional cognitiveassistant may have a patient-buddy bot for a patient in a hospital (forpatient experience transformation and augmented help for patient care).The bot is typically one device with one ability, speech via a speaker(using cognitive services of “dialog”). The following is an example inwhich the patient talks to the bot via the speaker:

Patient: “what time does the cafeteria close today?”

BOT: “5:30 p.m., 2 hours from now.”

Patient: “Please turn the room temperature down.”

BOT: “certainly” (and the bot issues a command on the device fortemperature control).

However, with embodiments, there may be two devices of embodiedcognition: #1 speaker and #2 movement detector for the patient to ensurepatient does not get off bed. In this example, the vital signsmonitoring alarm is set off. The bot, via the sound recognitioncognitive API establishes 70% confident that the sound is the alarm ofthe patient's vital sign together with the kinetics services,establishes 60% the patient is struggling to get out of bed, and states:

BOT: “Please stay in your bed. I have called a nurse to come in to serveyou.”

FIG. 8 illustrates, in a block diagram, a computing environment forproviding unified cognition for a virtual personal cognitive assistantwhen cognition is embodied across multiple embodied cognition objectinstances and an entity is able to interact with the virtual personalcognitive assistant using the multiple embodied cognition objectinstances in accordance with certain embodiments.

The personalized embodied cognition manager 110 works on the entity'sbehalf to manage multiple embodied cognition object instances andmultiple uses of personal cognitive assistants. The entity's employmentof embodied cognition object instances (e.g., IoT devices) is orthogonalto the entity's adoption of functions of cognitive assistants ofdifferent domains. The embodied cognition object instances are ofdiversified embodied cognition object instance types. With certainembodiments, different embodied cognition object instance types havedifferent cognitive capabilities.

The personalized embodied cognition manager 110 includes an embodiedcognition object instance registry 120 (“object instance registry” 120),an entity agent registry 130, and a personal cognitive agent 140. Theobject instance registry 120 includes objects, such as a speaker, asmart phone, a robot, a smart car, etc. Embodied cognition objectinstances may be added to or removed from the embodied cognition objectinstance registry 120. The entity agent registry 130 includes cognitiveassistant agents for specific domains, such as a first personalcognitive assistant agent (e.g., for banking), a second personalcognitive assistant (e.g., for shopping), etc. Cognitive assistantagents may be added to or removed from the entity agent registry 130.

Each entity identity has a virtual personal cognitive assistant,referred to as the personal cognitive agent 140, which is managed by thepersonalized embodied cognition manager 110. The personal cognitiveagent 140 provides unified cognition from across multiple assistantobjects of cognition instances that the entity employs and registers inthe embodied cognition object instance registry 120.

When a given set of cognitive capabilities (e.g., speech and vision) arebeing embodied into multiple embodied cognition object instances (e.g.,both the speaker and the smart phone), unified cognition for thepersonal cognitive agent 140 means that cognitive capabilities (e.g.,speech and vision), interacting with the entity and the world inindependent time and space (e.g., via the speaker at home and the smartphone outside of the home), are being unified into one cognitive wholefor the entity as a personal cognitive agent 140. The personal cognitiveagent 140 provides one unified cognition by integrating cognitiveservices distributed in multiple embodied cognition object instances.Different embodied cognition object instances may have differentembodied cognition object instance types. With embodiments, not everyembodied cognition object instance may embody all cognitivecapabilities. For example, some cognitive capabilities may not be fitfor a certain type of embodied cognition object instance. For example,vision is a cognitive capability that is not a fit for a speaker.Embodiments are able to manage these different types of embodiedcognition object instances with different sets of cognitivecapabilities.

With embodiments the personal cognitive agent 140 provides unifiedcognition and integrates cognitive interactions with and services frommultiple embodied cognition object instances with cognitive capabilitiesof cognitive assistance being modularized into cognitive assistantagents of the entity agent registry 130 and with cognitive capabilitiesof a cognitive model of a given cognitive assistant agent beingmodularized into cognitive modules.

As a first example, the personal cognitive agent 140 consolidates entityinteractions of one given cognitive capability (e.g., speech) acrossmultiple e embodied cognition object instances for a given cognitiveassistant agent. For example: in a personal shopping cognitive assistantagent having the cognitive ability of speech, the personal cognitiveagent 140 consolidates: a home speaker (June 15) (that hears: if sirloinsteak is less than $30 a pound, buy 3 pounds) with a smart phone in thesuper market (June 16) (that understands that milk will expire in threedays) with a smart car on the road (June 17) (that understands: don'tforget to pick up veggies and fruit). Other cognitive capabilities to beconsolidated from multiple e embodied cognition object instances ofinteraction for a given cognitive assistant agent include: visions,audio, kinetics etc.

As a second example, the personal cognitive agent 140 consolidatesentity interactions of multiple cognitive capabilities across multiple eembodied cognition object instances for the same cognitive assistantagent. For example, the entity's location module and temporal module areintegrated with the speech module for the entities personal cognitiveagent 140 and the personal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300indicates: “there is a store near you to pick up these items before yournext meeting”.

For the agent programming model, embodiments augment amodel-view-controller (MVC) architectural pattern to harvest thearchitectural benefits and merits of the agent programming model. Thisenables creation of a personal cognitive agent 140 that may becustomized for each different entity by adding different cognitiveassistant agents from the cloud agent registry 150, which interact withthe embodied cognition object instances registered in the embodiedcognition object instance registry 120.

With certain embodiments, an embodied cognition kernel resides in theembodied cognition object instances. The embodied cognition kernel is aruntime container for the instantiation of cognitive modules of aparticular function (e.g., banking, shopping, health, etc.) for thatembodied cognition object instance type and downloads the cognitivecapability fit for that embodied cognition object instance (e.g., theembodied cognition object instance “speaker” will not download the“vision” module of the cognitive assistant agent). In this example,there are embodied cognition object instances for speaker 810, smartphone 820, and smart car 820. In FIG. 8 , the entity agent registry 130is coupled to the speaker 810 with an embodied cognition kernel for aspeaker 812, to the smart phone 820 with an embodied cognition kernelfor a smart phone 822, and to the smart car 830 with an embodiedcognition kernel for a smart car 832.

With certain embodiments, a cognitive assistant agent is a softwaremodule created by extending cognitive computing services (e.g., via thecloud environment), including machine learning services, to implement aset function scope with a specific domain, that provides personalizedcognitive assistance to an entity.

With certain embodiments, the software structure to enable unifiedcognition for virtual personal cognitive assistants for cognition to beembodied across multiple embodied cognition object instances includes amodel-instance-control architectural pattern for agent and objectinstances, (following the model-view-controller architectural patternapplied in user interfaces of applications).

With certain embodiments, each cognitive capability (e.g., speech,vision, location, temporal, etc.) has a separate cognitive model, foreach type of personal cognitive assistant agent, that is orthogonal tothe embodied cognition object instances and the cognitive controller.Each cognitive capability is encapsulated in its corresponding cognitivemodule. Each cognitive module, as one of the elements of the model inthe agent's programming model, implements the function, the flow, andthe actions of the agent's functional scope.

The list of cognitive models (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 14 ) per eachcognitive capability are implemented as cognitive modules and include,but are not limited to the following:

A. knowledge (knowledge and memory for self, knowledge and memory foragent domain, general knowledge, etc.);

B. interaction (conversation services, vision services, audio services,kinetic services, graphical interface services, etc.);

C. recognition (speech recognition, vision recognition, audiorecognition, emotion recognition, intention recognition (e.g., goals,plans, pre-conditions, post-conditions, etc.), entity recognition, imagerecognition, etc.);

D. decisions and actions (commands (e.g., pre-conditions, postconditions, etc.), micro services (e.g., pre-conditions, postconditions, etc.), recommendations, prospective actions, IoT commands,IoT services, etc.); and

E. context (temporal context, location context, social context, etc.).

Each cognitive module is optional. However, each cognitive assistantagent has at least one cognitive module.

Each embodied cognition object (e.g., speaker, smart phone, robot, smartcar, etc.) may have at least one or more object instances (e.g.,speaker, smart phone, robot, smart car, etc.). For example, a speaker asan embodied cognition object instance may instantiate the speechcognitive module, while a smart phone as an embodied cognition objectinstance may instantiate the speech cognitive module, the locationcognitive module, the vision recognition cognitive module, etc.

Each cognitive assistant agent has an agent manifest file (i.e., a metadata file) that is generated from the personalized embodied cognitionIDE. The agent manifest file maintains a list of cognitive modules forthe set function scope of the corresponding cognitive assistant agent(e.g., personal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300) and a list ofobject instance implementations. For example, the personal shoppingcognitive assistant agent 300 may have the following cognitive modulesimplemented: 1) a speech module for multiple agent-features (e.g.,replenishment; ordering, etc.), 2) a visual module for multipleagent-features (e.g., product identification, product expiration daterecognition, etc.), 3) a temporal module for multiple agent-features(e.g., expiring date tracker; coupon period tracker, etc.), and 4) alocation module for multiple agent-features (e.g., nearest store toshopper's current location, etc.

The list of embodied cognition object instances may contain thefollowing: a speaker instance of speech modules for the shopping agent,and a smart phone instance of speech, visual, location cognitivemodules. Initially, a robot instance may be empty, but when the robotinstance is added, the agent manifest file is updated.

Referring to (A) of FIG. 8 , initially a software developer uses thepersonalized embodied cognition IDE 160 to create a cognitive assistantagent and deposits the cognitive assistant agent to the cloud agentregistry 150 of the cloud environment for personal cognitive assistants100. With embodiments, the developer follows the IDEs of an agent andagent framework to create cognitive modules relevant for the functionscope of the cognitive assistant agent (agnostic to any embodiedcognition object instance). For each embodied cognition object instance,the developer creates an object instantiation by extending the cognitivemodules that the embodied cognition object instance supports in order tocreate the cognitive assistant agent. The developer then publishes thefinished cognitive assistant agent in the cloud agent registry 150 ofthe cloud environment for personal cognitive assistants 100.

Referring to (B) of FIG. 8 , an entity logs in to the loud environmentfor personal cognitive assistants 100 to access the personal embodiedcognition manager 110. Through the personal cognitive agent 140, theentity sees which agents are available from the cloud agent registry 150of the cloud environment for personal cognitive assistants 100.

Referring to (C) of FIG. 8 , the entity selects a specific agent (e.g.,a personal shopping cognitive assistant agent) to download from thecloud agent registry 150 into the entity agent registry 130.

Referring to (D) of FIG. 8 , personal cognitive agent 140 automaticallyconfigures the selected agent (e.g., the personal shopping cognitiveassistant agent) according to the knowledge (memory) of the entity(e.g., personal information, such as location, social relationships;preferences, etc.).

Referring to (E) of FIG. 8 , the personal cognitive agent 140automatically sets up the cognitive capabilities for each embodiedcognition object instance that the entity has registered in the embodiedcognition object instance registry 120. For each registered embodiedcognition object instance, the personal cognitive agent 140 looks at theagent manifest file to locate the embodied cognition object instance ofeach cognitive module of the cognitive assistant agent for that embodiedcognition object instance. The personal cognitive agent 140 downloadsand sets up, per each embodied cognition object instance in the embodiedcognition object instance registry 120, by loading the correspondingobject instantiation of each cognitive module, to the embodied cognitionkernel.

Referring to (F) of FIG. 8 , the entity continues to interact with thecognitive assistant agent (e.g., the personal shopping cognitiveassistant agent) through multiple embodied cognition object instances(e.g., a speaker at home, a smart phone on the go, a smart car on theroad, etc.).

Referring to (G) of FIG. 8 , for each cognitive module of the samecognitive capability (e.g., speech) across multiple embodied cognitionobject instances, the personal shopping cognitive assistant agentaggregates into one unified cognition of that cognitive capability.

FIG. 9 illustrates an architectural pattern accordance with certainembodiments. In FIG. 9 , cognitive models 900 (e.g., a personal bankingcognitive model taking the form of personal banking cognitive assistantagent 200 or a personal shopping cognitive model taking the form ofpersonal shopping cognitive assistant agent 300) with cognitivecapabilities are used to generate cognitive instances 910 (embodiedcognition object instances in the embodied cognition object instanceregistry 120) and cognitive controllers 920 (cognitive assistant agents132, 134 in the entity agent registry 130). Also, the cognitiveaugmentations 930 (personal cognitive agents) control the cognitiveassistant agents.

FIG. 10 illustrates interaction of embodied cognition kernels andembodied cognition object instances in accordance with certainembodiments. In this example, there are embodied cognition objectinstances for speaker 810, smart phone 820, and smart car 820. Thepersona shopping cognitive modules 310 are downloaded into the cognitionkernels. For example, for the speaker 810, the speech cognitive moduleis downloaded into the embodied cognition kernel for speaker 812; forthe smart phone 820, the speech, vision, location, and audio cognitivemodules are downloaded into the embodied cognition kernel for smartphone 822; and, for the smart car 830, the speech, vision, location, andaudio cognitive modules are downloaded into the embodied cognitionkernel for smart car 832.

FIG. 11 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providing unifiedcognition for a virtual personal cognitive assistant when cognition isembodied across multiple embodied cognition object instances and anentity is able to interact with the virtual personal cognitive assistantusing the multiple embodied cognition object instances in accordancewith certain embodiments. Control begins at block 1100 with the personalcognitive agent 140 creating an association with an entity and apersonalized embodied cognition manager that includes an object instanceregistry, wherein the personal cognitive agent comprises a virtualpersonal cognitive assistant, and wherein the object instance registry120 stores embodied cognition object instances.

In block 1102, the personal cognitive agent 140 provides a cognitiveassistant agent for a domain that is associated with the embodiedcognition object instances stored in the object instance registry 120.

In block 1104, the personal cognitive agent 140 receives input from theentity for a first object instance of the embodied cognition objectinstances. In block 1106, the personal cognitive agent 140 receivesinput from the entity for a second object instance of the embodiedcognition object instances. For example, the first object instance maybe a speaker in a house, which receives input of “I want to buy asweater”, while the second object instance may be a smart car thatreceives an input of “I want to go shopping”.

In block 1108, the personal cognitive agent 140 coordinates interactionof the cognitive assistant agent, the first object instance, and thesecond object instance by identifying a goal based on the inputs andproviding the first object instance and the second object instance withinstructions to meet the goal based on the input, wherein the firstobject instance and the second object instance execute the instructions.For example, the personal cognitive agent 140 may identify a goal of“spend no more than $100 for apparel”. Then, the personal cognitiveagent 140, through the cognitive assistant agent, may instruct thespeaker to identify possible sweaters for purchase for under $100, andthe personal cognitive agent 140, through the cognitive assistant agent,may instruct the smart car to drive to a sweater store.

In block 1110, the personal cognitive agent 140 generates and provides aresponse to the input with an indication of the goal. For example, thepersonal cognitive agent 140 may provide a list of possible sweaters andsweater stores along with the goal of “spend no more than $100 forapparel”.

Thus, embodiments provide unified cognition for a virtual personalcognitive assistant of an entity when cognition is embodied acrossmultiple embodied cognition object instances. This includes creating acognitive assistant agent using a personalized embodied cognition IDE,where the cognitive assistant agent follows an agent and agent frameworkof the personalized embodied cognition IDE and includes cognitivemodules relevant for a function scope of a respective agent agnostic toany object instance. Also, to create the cognitive assistant agent, foreach object instance, the object instantiation is created by extendingcognitive modules that an object supports. The cognitive assistant agentis stored into a cloud agent registry 150 and is later downloaded intothe entity agent registry 130.

In response to the entity logging-in to the cloud environment 100 andaccessing a personalized embodied cognition manager 110, a personalcognitive agent 140 provides particular cognitive assistant agentsavailable from the cloud agent registry. In response to a selection of aspecific cognitive assistant agent by the entity, that cognitiveassistant agent Is downloaded from the cloud agent registry 150 to theentity agent registry 130. the cognitive assistant agent isautomatically configured according to personal information associatedwith the entity (e.g., location, social relationships, and preferences).A function of the specific cognitive assistant agent is automaticallyset per each object that the entity has registered in an embodiedcognition object instance registry 120. For each registered object, thepersonal cognitive agent 140 uses an agent manifest file of the specificcognitive assistant agent to locate an object instance of each cognitivemodule of the specific cognitive assistant agent for that objectinstance. Then, embodiments, download and configure, for each embodiedcognition object instance in the embodied cognition object instanceregistry 120 of the entity, by loading a corresponding objectinstantiation of each cognitive module, to an embodied cognition kernelof the embodied cognition object instance. Then, the entity interactswith the specific cognitive assistant agent through multiple embodiedcognition object instances and aggregates, using the personal cognitiveagent 140, each cognitive module of a same cognitive capability acrossmultiple embodied cognition object instances into one unified cognitionof a cognitive capability.

Thus, embodiments, incarnate one or multiple virtual personal cognitiveassistants into multiple embodied cognition object instances ofembodiments, for a given entity.

Multi-Dimensional Cognition for Unified Cognition in CognitiveAssistance

There are many cognitive services, which, independently, may bedescribed as single cognitive dimension. For example, cognitiveservices, such as Natural Language Processing in speech (e.g., usingclassifiers of dialog and speech to recognize intent, entities,emotions, audio, images, etc.) may be independent of other services ofdifferent cognitive dimension, such as visual recognition (e.g., usingclassifiers of images to recognize entities) or services for thecognitive capability of sound (e.g., using classifiers of sound torecognize that “an alarm went off”).

In certain embodiments, cognitive capabilities may be referred to ascognitive dimensions.

Unlike conventional implementations, embodiments enable differentcognitive capabilities to work together. Thus, there is sharing ofcognitive elements, such as knowledge with other cognitive capabilities(e.g., speech, vision, audio, and others). Enabling different cognitivecapabilities to work together assists in solving real world problems toadd significant value.

Embodiments provide augmented intelligence that brings value to entitieswith integration of what the cognitive system sees, hears, and knows.That is because human cognition is multi-dimensional.

Unlike robot solutions, in which all cognitive capabilities arephysically in the same robot, embodiments integrate cognitivecapabilities of different physical objects. For example, the cognitionof recognizing anomalies typically requires multi-dimensional cognitivecomputing services that include seeing, hearing, and knowing, where.This allows for the visual recognition of “smoke” from images, the audiorecognition of “alarm ringing” from sound, the signal of what an alarmtrigger means, the speech and Natural Language Processing (NLP)recognition of picking up people yelling “Help” picked up fromconversational services, and knowing the intent of signaling danger.

FIG. 12 illustrates interaction between IoT devices 1200 and a cognitivemodel 1220 in accordance with certain embodiments. The cognitive model1220 includes a cognitive classifier 1220, a cognitive classificationeditor 1240, and cognitive classifier configuration data 1250. Thecognitive classification editor 1240 may be used by developers to definethe cognitive classifier 1230. The cognitive classifier 1230 includes acognitive dimension map 1232 and a recognition process 1234. Then, thecognitive classifier 1230 receives information from the IoT devices togenerate events and recommendations.

FIG. 13 illustrates further details of the IoT devices in accordancewith certain embodiments. In FIG. 13 , the IoT devices include speakersand/or microphones 1302, smart appliances 1304, robots 1306, smartphones 1308, drones 1310, augmented reality (e.g., an image is modifiedto improve the image) objects 1312, and optionally other objects 1314.

FIG. 14 illustrates further details of the cognitive model 1220 inaccordance with certain embodiments. The cognitive model 1220 includesan interaction node 1410, a context node 1420, a recognition node 1430,a decisions and actions node 1440, and a knowledge node 1450.

The interaction node 1410 includes services: conversation 1411, audio1412, graphical interfaces 1413, visual 1414, kinetics 1415, andoptionally others 1416.

The context node 1420 includes services: temporal 1421, social 1422,location 1423, and optionally others 1424.

The recognition node 1430 includes services: intents 1431, entities1432, emotions 1433, audio 1434, image 1435, and optionally others 1436.

The decisions and actions node 1440 includes services: IoT devicecommands 1441, services 1442, prospective actions 1443, recommendations1444, and optionally others 1445.

The knowledge node 1450 includes services: self-knowledge 1451,knowledge of different domains 1452, and general knowledge 1453.

In certain embodiments, a cognitive assistant agent may use the servicesavailable in the nodes 1410, 1420, 1430, 1440, 1450 of FIG. 4 . Forexample, a fire detection cognitive assistant agent may use an audioservice to listen for a fire alarm and to announce an alert about afire, may use an IoT service 1442 to call the fire department.

FIG. 15 illustrates a cognitive dimension map and a recognition processin accordance with certain embodiments. The example of FIG. 15 is forhome fire safety. FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a cognitivedimension map with services: visual 1502, IoT device 1504, and audio1506 and a recognition process with elements 1500, 1510, and 1520. Thebeliefs repository 1500 includes a set of rules to establish recognitionbased on a set of facts. In this example, the facts come from visual1502 (a visual recognition service recognizes that the kitchen hassmoke), an IoT device (a fire alarm status has been triggered), andaudio 1506 (sound of sirens). Based on these facts, with the goal ofhome safety, the personal cognitive agent 140 selects a plan of plans1520. In this example, the plan is to re-establish home safety bynotifying the fire department of a fire, notifying the home owner,notifying a security company, etc. The plans may be pre-set andcustomized.

Embodiments provide multi-dimensional cognition in providing unifiedcognition for cognitive assistance and augmented intelligence with acognitive model 1220 that enumerates each cognitive dimension. Thecognitive classifier 1230 includes a cognitive dimension map with aconstruct with entries for context nodes, interaction nodes, recognitionnodes, knowledge nodes, and decision and action nodes. The entries ofthe cognitive service map may be referred to as entries for eachcognitive service that will be used for the particular cognition servicemap. With embodiments, a recognition process provides a definition ofhow each cognitive service works with each other cognitive servicelisted in the cognitive dimension map to recognize what is set out inthis cognitive model 1220. For example, how audio (a fire alarm) maywork with visual (smoke) to detect that there is a fire so that the firedepartment is called.

The cognitive model 1220 serves the purpose of enumerating all cognitivecapabilities participating in the cognitive system. The cognitiveclassifier 1230 names the subset of cognitive capabilities listed in thecognitive dimension map and defines how these cognitive capabilitieswork with each other.

The cognitive classifier 1230 has a classifier name, such as fireanomaly. The cognitive classifier 1230 has a cognitive dimension map,which is meta data that reference each cognitive service relevant tothis cognitive classifier 1230. The recognition process captures howeach cognitive service works with other cognitive services listed in thecognitive dimension map to recognize what is set out in this cognitiveclassifier 1230.

Each element in the cognitive model 1220 may be described as a palettein the cognition classification editor 1240. When the palette isselected, a list of pre-built cognitive services is presented forselection. The end user may also use the cognition classification editor1240 to define new, customized cognitive dimension maps and recognitionprocess (i.e., cognitive process flows).

For example, if a software developer wants to define a cognitiveclassifier 12 30 for a smart home application, with fire detection as aclassifier for the smart home user to use for days when the smart homeowner is away from home (e.g., on vacation or travelling). Then, thename of the classifier may be “fire cognitive classifier”, with acognitive dimension map having entries for context nodes, interactionnodes, recognition nodes, knowledge nodes, and decision and actionnodes.

The context node indicates: that the temporal service is set to “June 10to June 24” (the days when the family are on vacation and no one ishome), that the social service is set to “anyone in the family”, and thelocation model is set to “home”.

The interaction node indicates that: the audio service detects a firealarm and the visual service detects smoke.

The recognition node indicates: audio of all alarm classifiers andvisual recognition (e.g., smoke images).

The knowledge nodes include, for self-knowledge: knowledge of the homesmoke detector (e.g., maintenance date, etc.), knowledge of contact whenfire is triggered, and knowledge of all past fire alarm triggered.

The decision and actions node indicates: a list of services and commands(“services”) (e.g., to notify a family member and to call 911).

The recognition process includes machine initiated recognition of smokeor machine initiated audio recognition of an alarm. If only one isrecognized, connection with the home owner who is travelling isinitiated. If both are recognized, calling for help (e.g., dialing 911)is initiated.

Thus, once the cognition classification editor 1240 is used to createthe cognitive classifier 1230, for fire detection, then parameters arecreated for configuration by an entity (e.g., a home owner). Once theentity provides parameter values for the parameters, the cognitiveclassifier 1230 is deployed, which is cognitive system run time. Thecognitive classifier 1230 processes classification meta data of andtranslates this meta data into published and subscribed events.Published events may be described as broadcasting a change, andsubscribed events may be described as events that are subscribed to bythe cognitive model 1220 (e.g., a cognitive model 1220 for fire safetymay subscribe to events involving fire).

FIG. 16 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providing enablingmulti-dimensional cognition for unified cognition in cognitiveassistance. Control begins at block 1600 with the cognitionclassification editor 1240 creating a cognitive classifier 1230. Inblock 1602, the cognition classification editor 1240 creates aconfiguration file to store parameters for the cognitive classifier1230. In block 1604, in response to receiving input from the entity, thecognition classification editor 1240 stores parameter values for theparameters in the cognitive classifier configuration data 1250. In block1606, the cognition classification editor 1240 deploys the cognitiveclassifier 1230 to interact with the IoT devices 1200.

FIG. 17 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providingmulti-dimensional cognition for unified cognition in cognitiveassistance in accordance with certain embodiments. In block 1700, thecognitive classifier 1230 collects input from one or more of the IoTdevices 1200. In block 1702, the cognitive classifier 1230 matches theinput to parameter values of the parameters of the cognitive classifierconfiguration data 1250. In block 1704, the cognitive classifier 1230initiates action by one or more of the IoT devices.

FIG. 18 illustrates, in a flowchart, operations for providingmulti-dimensional cognition for unified cognition in cognitiveassistance in accordance with additional embodiments. Control begins atblock 1800 with Internet of Things (IoT) devices being coupled to acognitive model, wherein the cognitive model includes a cognitiveclassifier, and wherein the cognitive classifier includes a cognitivedimension map and a recognition process. In block 1802, the cognitiveclassifier 1230 receives input from one or more of the IoT devices. Inblock 1804, the cognitive classifier 1230 uses the cognitive dimensionmap to identify rules based on the input. In block 1806, the cognitiveclassifier 1230 uses the recognition process to identify events based onthe rules. In block 1808, the cognitive classifier 1230 issues theevents to one or more of the IoT devices, wherein the one or more IoTdevices execute actions in response to the events.

Thus, embodiments provide multi-dimensional cognition to enablecognitive assistance and augmented intelligence in more than one type ofcognitive service. Embodiments provide a 360 (“all around” or “allencompassing”) cognitive model that serves the purpose of enumeratingeach cognitive dimension. Moreover, embodiments provide a cognitiveclassifier that includes a cognitive dimension map and a recognitionprocess. The cognitive dimension map lists one or more cognitiveservices that participate in the classification of “intent” or “entity”.The recognition process provides a definition of how each cognitiveservice in the cognitive dimension map works with the other cognitiveservices to recognize what is set out in this cognitive classifier. Therecognition process may be described as a set of rules for receivinginputs from IoT devices and generating the events and recommendations.

Embodiments work with different document types, such as 1) image andvideo data for the cognition dimension of vision recognition, 2) audioand acoustic data for the cognition dimension of acoustic recognition,3) text and documents for the cognition dimension of knowledge andreasoning, 4) sentiment data for the cognition dimension of affectiveprocessing, and 5) kinetics data for the cognition dimension of movementprocessing.

Embodiments integrate different cognitive capabilities, which may befrom different data sources (e.g., different IoT devices) of: vision(seeing), acoustic (hearing), knowledge, natural language processing(conversation), etc. for the purpose of unified cognition as a productof sight, hearing, knowledge, dialogs, etc., producing a unifiedcognition more resembling human cognition, whose cognitive processescome from the integrated senses of seeing, hearing, etc.

Computing Environment

FIG. 19 illustrates a computing environment 1910 in accordance withcertain embodiments. In certain embodiments, the computing environmentis a cloud computing environment. Referring to FIG. 19 , computer node1912 is only one example of a suitable computing node and is notintended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use orfunctionality of embodiments of the invention described herein.Regardless, computer node 1912 is capable of being implemented and/orperforming any of the functionality set forth hereinabove.

The computer node 1912 may be a computer system, which is operationalwith numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing systemenvironments or configurations. Examples of well-known computingsystems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable foruse with computer node 1912 include, but are not limited to, personalcomputer systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients,handheld or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-basedsystems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputer systems, mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloudcomputing environments that include any of the above systems or devices,and the like.

Computer node 1912 may be described in the general context of computersystem executable instructions, such as program modules, being executedby a computer system. Generally, program modules may include routines,programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and so on thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.Computer node 1912 may be practiced in distributed cloud computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network. In a distributed cloudcomputing environment, program modules may be located in both local andremote computer system storage media including memory storage devices.

As shown in FIG. 19 , computer node 1912 is shown in the form of ageneral-purpose computing device. The components of computer node 1912may include, but are not limited to, one or more processors orprocessing units 1916, a system memory 1928, and a bus 1918 that couplesvarious system components including system memory 1928 to one or moreprocessors or processing units 1916.

Bus 1918 represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer node 1912 typically includes a variety of computer systemreadable media. Such media may be any available media that is accessibleby computer node 1912, and it includes both volatile and non-volatilemedia, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 1928 can include computer system readable media in theform of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 1930 and/orcache memory 1932. Computer node 1912 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 1934 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 1918 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,system memory 1928 may include at least one program product having a set(e.g., at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry outthe functions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 1940, having a set (at least one) of program modules1942, may be stored in system memory 1928 by way of example, and notlimitation, as well as an operating system, one or more applicationprograms, other program modules, and program data. Each of the operatingsystem, one or more application programs, other program modules, andprogram data or some combination thereof, may include an implementationof a networking environment. Program modules 1942 generally carry outthe functions and/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention asdescribed herein.

Computer node 1912 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 1914 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 1924,etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computernode 1912; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) thatenable computer node 1912 to communicate with one or more othercomputing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output (I/O)interfaces 1922. Still yet, computer node 1912 can communicate with oneor more networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide areanetwork (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via networkadapter 1920. As depicted, network adapter 1920 communicates with theother components of computer node 1912 via bus 1918. It should beunderstood that although not shown, other hardware and/or softwarecomponents could be used in conjunction with computer node 1912.Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers,redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems,tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

In certain embodiments, the personalized embodied cognition manager 110,the cloud agent registry 150, and/or the personalized embodied cognitionIDE 160 may have the architecture of computer node 1012. In certainembodiments, the personalized embodied cognition manager 110, the cloudagent registry 150, and/or the personalized embodied cognition IDE 160are part of a cloud infrastructure. In certain alternative embodiments,the personalized embodied cognition manager 110, the cloud agentregistry 150, and/or the personalized embodied cognition IDE 160 are notpart of a cloud infrastructure.

Cloud Embodiments

It is to be understood that although this disclosure includes a detaileddescription on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recitedherein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure that includes anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 20 , illustrative cloud computing environment 2050is depicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 2050 includes one ormore cloud computing nodes 2010 with which local computing devices usedby cloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant(PDA) or cellular telephone 2054A, desktop computer 2054B, laptopcomputer 2054C, and/or automobile computer system 2054N may communicate.Nodes 2010 may communicate with one another. They may be grouped (notshown) physically or virtually, in one or more networks, such asPrivate, Community, Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove,or a combination thereof. This allows cloud computing environment 2050to offer infrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for whicha cloud consumer does not need to maintain resources on a localcomputing device. It is understood that the types of computing devices2054A-N shown in FIG. 20 are intended to be illustrative only and thatcomputing nodes 2010 and cloud computing environment 2050 cancommunicate with any type of computerized device over any type ofnetwork and/or network addressable connection (e.g., using a webbrowser).

Referring now to FIG. 21 , a set of functional abstraction layersprovided by cloud computing environment 2050 (FIG. 20 ) is shown. Itshould be understood in advance that the components, layers, andfunctions shown in FIG. 21 are intended to be illustrative only andembodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. As depicted, thefollowing layers and corresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 2160 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 2161;RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 2162;servers 2163; blade servers 2164; storage devices 2165; and networks andnetworking components 2166. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 2167 and database software2168.

Virtualization layer 2170 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers2171; virtual storage 2172; virtual networks 2173, including virtualprivate networks; virtual applications and operating systems 2174; andvirtual clients 2175.

In one example, management layer 2180 may provide the functionsdescribed below. Resource provisioning 2181 provides dynamic procurementof computing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 2182provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may include applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 2183 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 2184provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 2185 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 2190 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 2191; software development and lifecycle management 2192;virtual classroom education delivery 2193; data analytics processing2194; transaction processing 2195; and enabling unified cognition for acognitive assistant 2196.

Thus, in certain embodiments, software or a program, enabling unifiedcognition for a cognitive assistant in accordance with certainembodiments described herein, is provided as a service in a cloudenvironment.

Additional Embodiment Details

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising: undercontrol of a personal cognitive agent that comprises one or more goalsindicating one or more objectives to be attained, creating, with aprocessor of a computer, an association with an entity and apersonalized embodied cognition manager that includes an object instanceregistry and an entity agent registry, wherein the personal cognitiveagent comprises a virtual personal cognitive assistant, wherein theentity agent registry includes a plurality of cognitive assistantagents, and wherein each of the cognitive assistant agents is from adifferent domain of a plurality of domains; receiving input from theentity via an embodied cognition object instance from the objectinstance registry; performing semantic analysis on the input to identifyterms; mapping the terms in the input to a first domain and a seconddomain of the plurality of domains; identifying a first cognitiveassistant agent from the first domain and a second cognitive assistantagent from the second domain; identifying a goal of the one or moregoals based on the input; providing unified cognition by coordinatingthe first cognitive assistant agent from the first domain and the secondcognitive assistant agent from the second domain to generate one or moreactions to meet the goal, wherein the first cognitive assistant agentand the second cognitive assistant agent exchange one or more messagesto identify the one or more actions to meet the goal; and providing aresponse to the input with an indication of the goal.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: while configuring embodied cognition objectinstances, providing a list of available cognitive assistant agents fromdifferent domains of the plurality of domains, wherein the firstcognitive assistant agent and the second cognitive assistant agent areselected from the list.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:for each of the available cognitive assistant agents, downloading thefirst cognitive assistant agent from the first domain and the secondcognitive assistant agent from the second domain from a cloud agentregistry into the entity agent registry.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising: configuring the first cognitive assistant agent andthe second cognitive assistant agent with configuration information,wherein the configuration information comprises information about alocation of the entity, one or more social relationships of the entity,and one or more preferences of the entity.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: providing unified cognition of any of the firstcognitive assistant agent, the second cognitive assistant agent, andother cognitive assistant agents.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein aSoftware as a Service (SaaS) is configured to perform method operations.